Commonwealth Financial Counselling (CFC)

Commonwealth Financial Counselling services are delivered by community and local government organisations and help people in personal financial difficulty to address their financial problems and make informed choices. Circumstances that can lead to personal financial difficulty include unemployment, sickness, credit over-commitment and family breakdown.

General financial counselling

Financial counsellors can assist people who are experiencing personal financial difficulties in the following ways:

negotiate with creditors – for example, if you are having difficulty maintaining your loan, mortgage or credit card repayments

advocate – a financial counsellor can assist with communicating with government or non-government organisations

explain what options are available when you are not able to pay bills

explain the debt recovery process – if you have received a letter of demand, a summons, a warrant of execution or a judgment summons and are not sure what to do next

develop a budgeting plan – if you are having difficulties making ends meet, a financial counsellor can help develop a budgeting plan to suit your circumstances, and help gain financial management skills to enable you to take control of your finances

Telephone Financial Counselling

The national 1800 007 007 financial counselling helpline provides access to free financial counselling information across Australia. It aims to help vulnerable individuals and families across a range of income and financial literacy levels to manage their money, overcome financial adversity, participate in their communities and plan for the medium to long term.

A booking and referral service is available through the national 1800 007 007* service to provide details of face-to-face financial counselling services in your local area.

*Please note that calls to 1800 007 007 from public phones/mobile phones may be timed and charged at a higher rate.

More information

More information on financial counselling services is available on the CFC factsheet or through calling the national telephone financial counselling helpline on 1800 007 007*.

*Please note that calls to 1800 007 007 from public phones/mobile phones may be timed and charged at a higher rate.